Hydraulic record changer mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 19, 1946. .I DfwEAvER HYDRAULIC RECORD CHANGER MECHANISM Filed Feb.' 25, 1-944 FIG. 46

Feb. 19, '1946. .1. n. WEAVER 2,395,025

n HYDRAULIC RECORD CHANGER MECHANISM Filed Feb. 23, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K Wh f ril n 2 f l I`\\\\\\\\\\\- l/ '3| i l i 1 H mi. l ll Il u H1 j; III fx" 'o [s rf' \\"m MIJN' Il 9 FIG, e

' INVENTOR A JERALD o. WEAVER Patented Feb. 19, 1946 y 'y Y .l l v i i cycle in an automatic phonograph. means. 'There is also provided a driving means Conventional Iautomatic phonograph mecha- 5 fOr Carrying out a record-changing cycle, and 9L f nlsms customarily include cam and lever mechnovel hydraulicA means connected Ato said driving anisms for controlling a record-changing cycle. means, said pickup arm and said record-releasing There is usually provided a cam wheel having one means for movingl said pickup arm Outwardiy or more cam surfaces, the contours of which must f beyond the edge f the recOrd fOr releasing the A mechanism. The various cam surfaces operatel Wardly intO engagement With the yinitial Playing various levers and the cams, such .abuse vfre- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the peripheral recresult in faulty operation. Such faulty opera- 3o partly in section; y

tion often requires frequent repairs and adjust- Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the peripheral recments. f In view of the fact that record changers ord support wlththe cover plate removed:

are usually operated by persons unskilled in the Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section,

- record-changer art, it is extremely desirable to taken on linel--lof Fig. 1 showing the mechnormal useby unskilledoperators. vanism for retarding the outward movement of Accordingly, the principal object of this inventhe-pickup arm and for swinging the pickup arm tion is to provide van automatic phonograph 40 inwardly;` y,

mechanism comprising a novel change-cycle con- Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view, partly in section, trol mechanism. Y showing the underside of the apparatus; and

Another object of the present invention is to Fig. ,'7 is a fragmentary view, partly in section,

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC RECORD CHANGER .MECHANISM Jerald D. Weaver, San Gabriel, Calif., assignor to Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation, a. corporationvof Delaware Application February 23, 1944, serial No. 523,529 14 claims. (ci. 274+1oi I'his invention relates generally to automatic playing it.v means for supporting a Ste-ek 0f Tec- Dhonograph devices and moreparticularly to a ords above said turntable, andv forr releasing the mechanism for controlling the record-changing y IOWeIInOSiS 'record frOrn Said record-Supporting be accurately formed and timed with relation to' lo lowermost record from said record-Supporting one another for successively controlling the means while'said pickup arm is in-its outwardmovements of a pickup arm and a record-release most position and for mOi/ing Said'pickllp arm into perform these control functions through one or groove of said record on said turntable during a more levers connected to the pickup arm and the Al record-changing cyclerecord-release mechanism. lIn many cases it is F01` a better understanding `0f the invention.' necessary that the levers be accurately formed for together .with other and further objects thereof. maintaining the time relationships between Ithe reference iS made t0 the following description movements of the pick-up arm and therecordtaken in connection with the accompanying release mechanism. Similarly, it is necessary '20 drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in thel that the adjustment of the levers be very critical. appended claimS While the control mechanism is usually con- In the accompanying draWinES! cealed Within an automatic phonograph, such Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of mechanism is nevertheless subjectk to considerthe apparatus in accordance with this invention able abuse, for example, during shipment and showing a group of records supported over the during normal operation lbyunskllled operators. turntable and one record on the turntable in In view of the critical relationships between' the playing Position;

quently results in maladjustmentsvwhich in turn ord-supporting and releasing mechanism shown provide an automatic phonograph mechanism anism for moving the pickup-arm outwardly; which inherently does not include delicate mech- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in section,y anlsms which can be damaged when subjected t0 taken on line 5-5 of Flg. 1 showing the mechprovide in an automatic phonograph a changeshowing an alternative mechanism for controlcycle control mechanism which does Vnot have ling the inward movement of the pickup arm.

critical dimensions or adjustments and will be .Referring particularly to Fig. lof the drawinherently free of mechanical Weakness insofar ings, the inventioriillustrated therein includes a as normal 'use is concerned. record-changing mechanism comprising a base In accordance with the present invention, there platee for Supporting a rotatable turntable l0 0n is provided an automatic record-changing mechwhich is shown a record Il' in position for reproanism comprising a rotatable turntable for supduction. The turntable l0 is rigidly connected to porting a record thereon, a pickup arm, a pedestal ashaft l2 rotatably supported by a bearing mem-r on'which said pickup arm is mounted to move ber I3 provided yon a bracket I4 fixed to the unvertically and horizontally into and out of en-v derside of the base plate 9 (Fig. 1). The turngagement with a record on 'saidturntable for 55 table i0 may be driven by any suitable means.

i'or example, such as that described in United States Patent No. 2,286,490 of Arthur L. Knox,

patented June 16, 1942. 'Ihe unplayed records I5 l (Fig. 1) are supported in a stack above the turntable so that the lowermost record may be moved into playing position on the turntable. A pickup arm I6 is mounted for movement in a horizontal plane on pedestal I1 situated atone side `of the turntabley I| as shown in Fig. 1. Atthe free end of the'pickup arm I6 there is provided a reproducer or pickupv I6 with a, stylus I6 which is y adapted to cooperate with avrecord on the turn--I table I to reproduce it in the conventionalmanner.

Record-supporting and releasing mechanismy K The unplayed stack of records I5 is supported above the turntable I6 on a peripheral support which engages the peripheral edge of the lowermost supported record. The stack is also supe.

ported at the edge of the centering aperture of the `same record bya fixed centering pin.- The peripheral support includes an upwardly extending pedestal (Figs. 1 and 2) which isfllxedto the base plate 9'in a suitable manner. At the upper end of the pedestal, there is provided a swivelly mounted bracket 2| which includes two biased ball 28 which is adapted to engage at different times a pair of-notches 29 and 3|) provided in the anged member 24 (Fig'. 2). The notches 29 and 30 are spaced 180 from each other. When the supporting shelf 22 is in position for supporting a stack of ten-'inchrecords, as shown in- Figs. l and 2, the spring biased ball 26 is in engagement with the notch 29. When the bracket 2| is rotated about vitsVertical axis relative to the pedestal 20, to a point 180 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spring biased ball 28 comes into engagement with the notch 30 and the supporting shelf 23 is locked in position for supporting twelve-inch records. The bracket 2| is provided with a pair of channel portions 32 and 33 in which a pair of spring biased recordmoving members 34 and 35 are adapted to reciprocate.n The members 34 and 35 are biased to their respective positions, as shown in Fig. 3, by a pair of spring members 36 and 31. The members 34 and 35 are adapted to be engaged and moved by a lever 39 whichis pivoted on a pin-40 pro vided near the base of the pedestal 20 as shown in Fig. 2.

As shown, in Fig. l, there is provided a'xed record-centering piny 42 which extends upwardly through shaft I2 and above the yturntable I0. The lower end of the pin 42 is provided with a notch portion 43 which is engaged by a locking member 45 provided on the bottom of the bracket I4 (Fig. 1). At the upper end of the spindle 42 there is provided an off-set portion 46 to form a record-supporting shoulder 41. The off-set portion 46 is adapted to center the stack of records I5 on the shoulder 41 and the supporting shelf 22 of the bracket 2|, as shown in Fig. l. l

The mechanism for moving the lever 38 15.11-

vinder presently to be described.

lustrated in Figs. 2 and 6 and comprises a duidoperated mechanism including a cylinder 49 in which a. piston 5|) is adapted to be moved. The piston 50 is connected to a rod 5I which is adapted to be moved through an aperture 52 provided at the end of the cylinder. A member 53 is connected between the lever 39 and the rod 5|. The piston 50 and the member 53 are normally biased to the position shown in Fig. 2 by a spring member 55. A suitable oil-retaining Washer 56 is provided for retaining the oil or other fluid in the cylinder 49.

The cylinder 49 is connected to a master cyl- In operation, when fluid is forced into the cylinder 49 from the master cylinder, the piston 50 and therewith the member 53 is moved to the right (Fig. 2) against the biasing action of the spring 55, thereby moving the lever 39 in a counterclockwise direction to-actuate the member 34 and thereupon release the lowrmost record from the shoulder 41 and the 'bracket 21|. When the fluid is drawn out of the cylinder 49, the piston 50 and the member 53 are returned to the position yshown in Fig.. 2 by the spring member 55.

Pickup arm mounting and mechanism for moving the pickup arm.

`As shown in F18. 1, the pickup arm I6 may be pivotally mounted on a pin 60 supported by a bearing member 6| provided on a plate 62.` The plate 62 is pivotally mounted on a pin 63 which is fixed to a plate 64.' 'I'he plate 64 is connected to the upper end of a rotatable hollow shaft 65 in which the Apickup arm lift-pin 66 is adapted to move vertically.

Intermediate the ends of the pickup I6 there is pivotally connected thereto a lever 1I in a suitable manner such as shown in Fig. 1. To one end of the lever 1 I, there is afiixed a downwardly extended pin 13. The opposite end of the lever 1I is in engagement with a screw 61 provided on the plate 62, as shown in Fig. 1. A spring 14 is connected to the pickup arm I6 and associated lwith the lever 1| in the manner shown in Fig. l, to maintain the lever 1| in the position shown in Fig.,1. As will be evident from the description hereinafter, when the raised pickup arm I6 is moved from its outermost position toward the turntable II and the record on the turntable I I is a twelve-inch record, the pin 13 will extend in the plane of the twelve-inch record on the turntable and serve to position the stylus I9 of the pickup arm I6 over the initial playing groove of that record.

The mechanism for moving the shaft and pin 66 to rotate and elevate the pickup arm'is shown in Fig. 1 and comprises a hydraulic mechanism including a housing 18 provided with a cylinder 19 in which a piston 6I), fixed to the lower end of the pin 66, is adapted to be moved vertically to elevate the pin 66 and the pickup arm I6. 'I'he upper end of the cylinder 19 is provided with 'a shoulder 6| which is adapted to support a bearing assembly 62 for rotatably supporting the shaft 65 as shown in Fig. 1. At the upper end o! the cylinder 19 there is provided a second cylinder 64. A baiile 65, as shown in Fig. 4, is formed on the inner wall of the cylinder 84 to extend to the outer wall of the cylinder 16 and from the bottom of the cylinder 84 to the cap member 66 (Fig. 1) A rotatable member 88 is rlxed to the lower end of the shaft65, as shown in Fig. 1. The member 86 has two vanes 89 and 90. The vane 90 is adapted to engage a stop 9| when the member 68 has been rotated a predetermined distance in afcounterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 4. AdJacent the lower end of thecylinder 10 there lis provided a small reservoir'l2 connected'to" a master cylinder, previously referred to. The reservoir 02 and lower portion of the cylinder 10 are filled with a suitable fluid auch as oil. vWhen fluid is forced into the reservoir 92 (Fig. 1),*il1ild is also forced from the reservoir .02 through the fm operate the piston `and rotatable member 08.'

ports 04 and 0I into the cylinders 10 and 84 to As shownin Fig. 1, ajspring valve member y91 'with a. small port 00 is providedin the lowerend of the cylinder 10 and is adapted when in yone y position partially to close the opening 05.' When the fluid is forced through the port 05 from the reservoir!! to the cylinder 10, the member Slis movedl away from the port 'Il *toV permitfluid to enter the cylinder with less obstruction than `the cylinder l 04 having' the smaller port When the stylus of the pickup-arm I6 is over the jinitial playing groove oi' a record, the vanes V00 and 00 are in approximately the dotted-'dine position shown in Fig. 4. When the pickup arm has moved into the tripping groove of a record,.the`v vanes 00 and I0 are in the full-line` position shown in'Fig. 4. When iluidis forced intovthe cylinder 04 in the area between the baille 05 and the vane Il, the member 00 and shaft Il are rotated in a 'counterclockwise direction (Fig. y4). The rotation of the shaft Il is retarded by a spring member |00 (Figs. 1 andv5). one end of which is lanchored .to the shaft 0l and the other will be elevated before asuillcient 'amountrofr` fluid is forced into the cylinder Il to rotate the member 00. When the piston 00 is elevated sufficiently i'ar to engage the upperend of the cylinder 1I (Fig. 1), the pickup arm is elevated out of engagement with the Arecord on the turntable. Thereafter, iluid ceases to be forced into the cylinder 10 and the spring-valve member. moves back partially to close the openingl as shown in Fig. 1. 'As the fluid continues to be forced into the cylinder Il, the member "rotates in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 4) ,A therebyv swinging the lpickup arm outwardly. When the pickup arm Il has been swung outwardlyto a position approximately over the outer groove of av record on the turntable, the free end of the spring member |00 engages the lower end of the slotj|0| (Fig. 5). Further rotary movement of the member 00 builds up 'tension in kthe 'spring member |00. When the member 00 is rotated in a' counterclockwise direction until vthe vane 00 engages the stop 0I (Fig. 4) the pickup arm is beyond the edge ofthe record on the turntable.

l When the fluid is gradually drawn out of the cylinders 10 and 0I, in a manner to be described hereinafter, the spring member |00 rotates the member 00 ina clockwise direction (Fig. 4) to swing the pickup arml inwardly and the weight of the pickup arm I0 on the pin 00 forces the piston 00 downwardly. This horizontal and vertical movement of the pickup arm is controlled by the speed with which the fluid is drawn from the cylinder 04 through the large opening 94 and fromthe cylinder-I0 through the restricted opening 00 inthe member 01 (Fig. l). From the 'above it will be apparent that the fluid will be expelledfrom the cylinder 0I fasterthan it is asbaoae Y 3 ',expeusjnm'me cylinder `1|. Thus. it win be evidentthat thef pickup arm I0 will be moved .y inwardly' under `the biasing action of the springl Hmembery |00 to a position immediately over the initial groove of a record on the turntable before the weight of the pickup arm I0 on the pin 00 `forces the piston 00 downwardly to the position shownin Fig. 1 where the stylus I0 of the pickup arm I 0 engages the record on the turntable.

- Driving mechanism 'for hydraulic pickuparm v control Vandv recortl-releasing mechanism @The mechanism forv actuating the `hydraulic A*pickup arm vcontrol and record-releasing mechanisms is shown in Figs. 1 and 6 and comprises a master cylinder mechanism including a housing |05 providing a cylinder I00-in which there is a vrpiston |01 connected to -a rod |00.y Adlacentfto the right-hand end of the cylinder |00 (Fig. 6) there is provided a second cylinder I I 0 in which a vpiston |08 is adapted to be moved. y The` piston v|00 is normally biased to the position shown in Fig. 6 by a spring member: I I The cylinder |00 is connected to the fcylinder ||0 by an opening 5|I2, and the cylinders |00 and |I0 are lled with a suitablel fluid such as oil.

i As shown inFig. 6the cylinder |06 is connected to the pickuparm control housing 10 by a tube |.I2,and the cylinder I|0 is connected to therecQrd-reIeasing housing I! by a coupling Il. WhenA the Ipiston |01 is moved inwardly a predetermined distance, a projection I I5 on the piston v|01 l*engages v'and moves the piston |09 inwardly agalnst'the'biasing action of the spring member This movement of the pistons |01 and |00 forces the iluid out of the cylinders |00 and I|0 'into the pickup arm control and record-releasing 4 housings 10A and 40 respectively.

lThe driving mechanism for actuating the piston |01. is vbest illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6. Re-

ferring to Fig. 1,there is connected to the lower end of the shaft I2 a clutch member IIl.l As is evident from Fig. 1, the connection of the clutch member |I0 tothe shaft A|2 permits the clutch member I I0r to rotate with the shaft `I2 and toA fmove. relative theretor vlongitudinally along its axis. Normally the clutch member ||0 is main r tained in vt'he position shownin Fig. 1', by a spring member I2|, one end of which is connectedy to the base plate 9 and the other end of which is connected to the lever |26.

e Immediately below the clutch member ||0, a clutch member I I9 is mounted on a tubular shaft |20 which is rotatable about the axis of the fixed spindle 42 and supported by the bracket I4. The clutch |I0 is mounted in such a manner that it does not rotate except when it is engaged by the .clutch member IIL y'I'he shaft |20 also has amxedthereto a worm gear |22 which is in continual driving engagement with a gear |23' (Figs.

1 and 6) which is fixed to a, shaft |24. The shaft v|24 vis rotatably supported by the bracket Il as shown in Fig. 6. f

,The mechanism for moving the clutch member 5| I0. into driving engagement with the clutch member ||0 is best illustrated in Fig. vl and in-A cludes ya lever I 20 pivotally mounted on the bracket I4 (Fig.` 1).V 'I'hefree end of the lever` I 20 isvvadapted tobe in continual engagement with the clutch member I| 0. yThe opposite end ofthe lever is in engagement with the armature |21 of a solenoid |20. Solenoidl 28 is adapted to be energized through the conductors |3| and |32 by a tripping mechanism such as that dis'- closed in UI B. Patent No. 2,018,881, patented October 29, 1935. When the solenoid |28 is energized, the armature |21 is moved upwardly to move the lever |26 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1). The movement of the lever |26 is sumcient to move the? clutch member |I8 into operative engagement with the clutch member H8.

A wheel I3| is fixed to the shaft |24, as shown. in Fig. 6, to rotate therewith in a clockwise direction. The wheel |3| is connected to the rod |08 (Fig. 6) by a. connecting rod |32, one end of which is swivelly connected to the free end of the rod |08 and the other end of which is provided with an elongated aperture |34 which engages a shouldered pin |35 provided on the wheel |3|. The wheel I3| is provided with a cam portion |38 which isadapted to engage the free end of the lever |26 (Fig. 1) at the end of the cycle of operation of the wheel |3|, for moving the clutch member |I8 out of engagement with the clutch member IIS (Fig. 1).

During a cycle of operation of the wheel |3I, it performs the following functions in sequence. When it is in its idleposition, the pistons |01 and |09 are in the positions shown in Fig. 6, and the pin |35'on the wheel |3| is in engagement with the right-hand end of the elongated aperture |35 as shown in Fig. 1. When the wheel |3I begins to rotate in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) the connecting rod |32 moves the rod -I08 and piston |01 inwardly (Fig. 6). This movement of the piston |01 forces the fluid out of the cylinder 06 through the tube ||3 into the reservoir 92A and cylinders 19 and 84 to elevate the pickup arm |6 and swing it horizontally beyond the edge of the record on the turntable I0, in the manner heretofore described. While the fluid is being forced out of the cylinder |06, the tension of spring member I I| being greater than the pressure of the fluid against the piston |09 maintains the piston |09 in the position shown in Fig. 6. When the piston |01 has been moved inwardly sumciently far for the fluid forced from the cylinder |08 into the cylinders 18 and 84 to swing the pickup arm |6 to its `outermost position, the

` projection on the piston |01 engages the piston |09. As. the piston |01 continues its inward movement, the piston |09 is moved against the biasing action of the spring member thereby forcing the fluid from the cylinder ||0 into the cylinder 49 (Fig. 2) to release the lowermost record from the shoulder 41 and bracket 2|, in the` manner heretofore described. When the lowermost supported record has been released, the wheel |3| has completed one-half of a cycle. Since the aperture |34 (Fig. 1) is elongated, it will be apparent that the wheel |3| will rotate a predetermined distance before the pin |35 will engage the left-hand end of the aperture |34 (Fig. 1) and thereafter move the 'piston |01 outwardly (Fig. 6). The piston |01 1n so moving permits the spring member I to movev the piston, |09 outwardly to the position'shown in Fig. 6 and draw the fluid out of the cylinder 49 (Fig. 2). Likewise, the piston |01 in moving outwardly draws the fluid out of the cylinders 19 and 84. However, due to the length of the aperture |34 in the connecting rod |32, it is evident that when the wheel |3| is returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 1, the piston |01 is not returned to its Anormal position. 'Iherefore, the pickup arm I6 ceases to be moved inwardly bythe movement of the piston |01 (Fig. 6) and the spring |00 (Figs. 1 and 2). With the piston |01 out of its normal position, it is evident that a portion of the fluid remains in the cylinder 84.

In order for the mechanism to function properly during the succeeding cycle of operation of the wheel |3|, it is necessary to move the piston |01 back to the position shown in Fig. 6. To do this, pressure must be created in the cylinder |06. This pressure is developed by the movement of the pickup arm I6 as it reproduces a record. As the pickup arm I6 moves inwardly, the vane 89 in cylinder 84 is moved from the dotted-line position to the full-line position shown `in Fig. 4, t0 force the fluid remaining in the cylinder 84 through the tube ||3 into cylinder |06 (Fig. 6) to build up pressure therein and move piston |01 back to the position shown in Fig. 6.

According to a `modification of this invention. the mechanism illustrated in Fig. '7 may be utilized to eliminate the elongated slot .|34 in member |32. As described hereinbefore, slot |34 is required to allow inward movement of the pickup arm. Thus a bellows may be provided having a volume sufficient to contain the quantity of oil displaced in cylinder 84 when pickup arm |8 moves from the initial playing groove of the record to the tripping groove of the record.

Bellows |45 is fixed to bracket |5|, and bracket |53 together with stop member |52 is fixed to bracket l |5| for limiting the expansion of the bellows. The bellows may be connected to tube ||3 by tube `|55 and coupling |56.

When piston |01 is m'oved inwardly to force uid from cylinder |06 into cylinders 19 and 84, bellows |45 rcan expand until it engages stop member |52. When the piston |01 is moved outwardly,` fluid will be drawn out of bellows |45 as well as from the cylinders 19 and 8E. However, as pointed out hereinbefore, fluid remains in cylinder 84 when pickup arm I8 engages the initial playing groove of the record. Since bellows 45 has been collapsed, the inward movement of the pickup arm and the rotation of the vane 89 in cylinder 84 will move fluid from cylinder 84 through chamber 92 and tube |55 into bellows |45 whereby to allow normal inward movement of the pickup arm.

Mode o! opertion After a stack of records has been placed upon the shoulder 41 and shelf 22 or 23 associated with the bracket 2| (Fig. 1) and after a record has been placed in playing position upon the turntable |0, the pickup arm I6 is manually moved to place the stylus I3 of the reproducer |8 in the initial groove of the record on the turntable.

The pickup arm I8 moves inwardly as the stylus I9 of the reproducer |8 follows the playing groove' of the record and eventually reaches the inner groove Where the automatic tripping mechanism (not-shown in the drawings) is actuated by the movement of the plate 64 (Fig. l) responsive to the movement of the pickup arm I6. The solenoid |28 (Fig. l) is energized and the lever |28 is moved in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. l) to move the clutch member ||8 into driving engagement with the clutch member I9 provided on the shaft |20.

Engagement of the clutch members causes the worm |22 to drive the gear |23 and therewith the wheel |8| through a record-changing cycle.

rAs the wheel |3| rotates, the connecting rod |32 (Fig. 6) moves the piston |01 inwardly, thereby forcing fluid from the cylinder |06 into the cylinders 19 and 84, to elevate and swing the starting groove of `,siaoae `'pickup arm Il` outwardlybeyond the edge of the played record on the turntable.y

` ontinued movement ,or the wheely i3 I ,y causes the projection III- onthe piston illlbto, engage and move the piston I 9.l (Fig. y) thereupon forcing uuid from the cylinder 'no interne yiinder 49 (Fig. 2) to move the piston 50 to-the yright for moving the lever 3,0 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 6) vsuillciently far /to m 0.v8. the

lowermost 'recordoil the shoulder 4'Iy and the bracket 2 I The wheel n i. has by. this unierotated suincientlyiar to reverse the piston `I0`| (Fig. 6)

- `draulictimingand actuating-meansv connected to said driving means, said pickup arm and rsaid record-releasing means for first moving said pickupfarm loutwardly beyond the edge of a record Aonsaid turntable, for then'releasing` the lowermost record from said'record-supporting means and for lastly moving said pickuparm inwardly allowing the spring member III to reverseythe piston |00, thereupon drawingthe fluidoutfoi' the into engagementv with the beginning of said record on saidturntable during a record-changing cycle. -10

3. In. van. automatic phonograph having a rotatable turntable `forsupporting a record, a

pickup. arm for playing a record on said vturn- .ftable,.means.for supporting a plurality of records vabove saidpturntable and releasing the lowermost :record from said record-supporting means, a ilrst Vhydraulic means connected to Said pickup arm i' or movingrsaid pickupv arm. to anioutermost l position and returning -it to the initial playing groove of the record on-said turntablea second to move'the clutch member I I8 out ot Adriving engagement with the clutch member I 9.v Immediately afterthe members H8 and IIS disengage, the wheel |3| comes to rest in the position shown i in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the'record. recently placed upon the turntable isreproduced. e l.

The next'and following cyclesof the automatic operations are initiated by the automatictripping mechanism (not shown) eachtime the stylus Iii in the reproducer I0 moves into the inner groove of the record being played.

` While there has been described what` vis ,at present considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that various changes and modications. may

be l made therein without departingI from the .invention, and itr is, therefore`,laimed in the .appended claims `to cover all such changes .and modiiications as fall withintheftrueLspirit and scope of the invention. Y y

What is claimed is:. y

1.l In an automatic phonograph comprising a rotatable turntable, `a pickuparm adapted to e moved into andv out of engagement with a krecord on said turntable for `playing it, means for supporting a plurality of records above said turn-y table, means for releasing the lowermostrecord. from said supporting means,l driving means ior hydraulicr meansconnected to said record-releasing means for releasing said lowermost recordr from-said record-supporting means while said l pickuparm is in its'outermost position, a third `hydraulic means connected to said first and second hydraulicmeans .for actuating said pickup arm lmoving means and said record-releasing means in timed relation, and driving means connected to said thirdfhydraulic'means and being actuated when one side'of the record on said turntable is played for respectively moving said pickup arm to an'outermost position, releasing the lowermost record from said record-supportingmeans and returning said 'pickup arm tothe initial playing groove of the record on said turntable. l.

v 4. vIn yan automatic phonograph having a rotatable turntable for supporting a record, a.y pickup arm for playing a record on'said turntable,

a Vperipheral-supporting means for supporting carrying out a record-changing cycle, .means operativelyy associated with said driving means and said pickup armformoving it outwardly beyond the edge of a record onsaid turntable and inwardly into engagement -with the initial playing groove of said record and hydraulic timing. means operatively f associated with said pickup arm moving means and said record-releasing means for releasing the lowermost reord fromy said record-supporting meansy when the pickup arm is beyond the v.edge of the recordv on said turntable. 2. In an automatic phonograph comprisingxa rotatable turntable, a pickupvarrn adaptedtorbe movedinto and out ofv engagement with -a record. on saidvturntable for playing it, means iorsup-y porting a plurality'of records. abovev said turntable, means for releasing the lcwermostrecordf.

'from said supporting means, driving means. for

carrying outv a record-changing cycle, and hya stackof records, first and second reciprocating 'members associated with said peripheral-supporting means for releasing the lowermost record from Asaid record-supporting means,j a irst hymoving saidpickup arm'to an outermost positionand returning it'tov the initial playing groove oi' the recordfon said turntable, a second hydraulic means connected to said movable members rforreleasing said lowermost record from said record-supporting means while-said pickup armzis in its outermost position, a third hydraulic means connected to said first and second hydraulic means for actuating said pickup armmoving means and said record-releasing means in timed relation, and driving'means connected tosaid third hydraulic means and being actuvatedwhenoneside of the record on said turntable is played for respectively moving said pickup armto an outermost position, releasing they lowermost record fromv said record-supporting means and returning said pickup arm to the initial playing groove of therecord on saidturntable... Ay f -f 5..In an automatic 'phonograph mechanism rcomprising va rotatable'turntable for supporting a record thereon, movable peripheral-supporting means adjacent to said turntable for cooper-'- ating in supporting astack of records ofrela- .tivelysmall diameter' ory of relatively large diameter, disengagingy means kassociated with saidy peripheral-supporting means adapted to 4engage a vperipheral wall o! the ,lowermost supported record forreleasing said lowermost record from said shoulder and said peripheral-supporting means, vand hydraulicl means for moving said disengaging means and moving the lowermost supported record to playingposition on said turntable. y

6. In an automatic phonograph having a rotatable turntable for supporting a record, a pickup arm for playing a record 'on said turntable, a movable peripheral-supporting means for supporting a stack of yrecords and adapted when in a first position for supporting a plurality of records of a small diameter and when rotated 180 to a second positionv for supporting a plurality of records of a large diameter, disengaging means associated with said peripheral record-supporting means for releasing the lowermost record Ifrom said record-supporting means, a pivoted member connected to said record-supporting means and adapted when Vmoved to move said disengaging means, a first hydraulic means connected to said pickup arm for `moving said pickup arm to an outermost position and returning it to the initial playing groove of the record on said turntable, -a second hydraulic means connected to said pivoted member for actuating said recorddisengaging means to release said lowermost record from said peripheral support While `said pickup arm is in its outermost position, a third hydraulicmeans connected to said first and second hydraulic means for actuating said pickup arm-moving means and vsaid record-releasing means in timed relation, and driving means connected to said third hydraulic means and being actuated when one side of the record on said turntable is played for respectively moving said pickup arm to an outermost position, releasing said lowermost record from said record-supporting means and returning said pickup arm to the initial playing groove of the record on said turntable.

7. In an automatic phonograph mechanism comprising a rotatable turntable for supporting a record thereon, movable. peripheral-supporting means adjacent to said turntable for cooperating in supporting a stack of records of relatively small diameter when in a iirst position and for supporting a stack of records of relatively large diameter when in a second position, disengaging means associated with said peripheral-supporting means for releasingthe lowermost record, a hydraulic mechanism including a cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder and connected to said disengaging means, a hydraulic driving means connected to said cylinder in said hydraulic mechanism adapted to move said piston a predetermined distance in a first direction for actuating said disengaging means, means for moving said piston a predetermined distance in a second direction irnmediately after said lowermost record has been released from said peripheral supporting means for permitting the second lowermost record oi.' said stack to move into disengaging position and means for permitting said piston to move in said second direction.

8. In an 'automatic phonograph' mechanism comprising a rotatable turntable, a pickup arm forplaying a record on said turntable, a hydraulic pickup arm control means comprising a first movable means adapted vfor elevating said pickup arm, a second movable means connected to said pickup arm for moving said pickup arm outwardly for returning said pickup arm to the beginning of said record on said turntable, a hydraulic driving means connected to saidA hydraulic pickup arm control means being filled with a fluid and having a movable member adapted when moved for forcing said fluid into said hydraulic pickup arm control means for moving said first and second movable means, driving means associated with said turntable and connected to said movable member in said hydraulic driving means and adapted to cooperate with said turntable for moving said movable member to move said pickup arm to the beginning of a record'on said turntable after a record has been played on said turntable, and means connected to said hydraulic pickup arm control means and said hydraulic driving means for controlling the positioning of said pickup arm over the beginning of a record on said turntable during a record-changing cycle. f

9; In an automatic phonograph comprising a rotatable turntable for supporting a record, a pickup arm for playing a record on said turntable, a hydraulic mechanism connected to said pickup arm including a first cylinder, a piston movable vertically in said first cylinder adapted to lift said pickup arm out of engagement with a record on said turntable, a second cylinder, a member rotatable in said second cylinder pivotally supporting said pick-up arm to move vertically and swing horizontally into and out of engagement with said record on said turntable, a reservoir connected to said first and second cylinders by openings and filled with a fluid, a master cylinder filled with a fluid and connected to `said reservoir and having a piston adapted when moved in a first direction for forcing fluid from said master cylinder into said iirst and second cylinders for moving said pickup arm to its outermost position and when moved in a second direction for drawing said fluid out of said flrst and second cylinders to swing said pickup arm inwardly into engagement with the beginning of a record on said turntable, driving means connected to said piston in said master cylinder, and means vconnected to said master cylinder for controlling the amount of fluid drawn out of said reservoir and said second cylinder when said piston in said master cylinder is moved in said second direction,

for limiting the inward movement of said pickup arm by said hydraulic mechanism, to the beginning of a record on said turntable during a record-changing cycle.

l0. In an automatic phonograph comprising a rotatable turntable for supporting a record, a

pickup arm for playing a record on said 'turntable, means for supporting a stack of records above'said'turntable, movable elements associatedwith said record-supporting means adapted when moved to release the lowermost record from said record-supporting means, av first hydraulic means connected to said pickup arm for elevating it, a second hydraulicmeans connected to said pickup arm for moving it horizontally into and out of engagement with a record on said turntable, a driving means for carrying out a record-changing cycle, a master cylinder having first and second compartments filled with a fluid and connected to said iirst and second hydraulic means respectively, a piston connected'to said driving means and movable in said first compartment for forcing said fluid from said first compartment into said first hydraulic means for moving said pickup arm to its outermo-st position and moving it inwardly into engagement with the beginning of a record, a piston in said second compartmentadapted to be moved by said first piston, after said yfirst piston has been moved a predetermined distance, for forcing said fiuid from said second compartment into said second hydraulic means for releasing the loweryasoaoae most record from said record-supporting means while said pickup `arm is in it's outermost position, and means vfory movingsaidsecond piston in said master cylinder back to its inoperative position as said driving means moves said iirst lmeans,connectedto thepiston in thefrst cylinpiston in said master cylinder'b'ack to its inop-v y erative position attheV end of'a record-changing cycle. u n

1l. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable turntable, a pickup arm mounted adjacent said turntable yi'or horizontal and vertical movement with respect thereto, record-supporting means adjacent the periphery of said turntable for supporting a plurality of records in a position to be dropped to said turntable, a record-releasing means operatively associated with said record-supporting means, rst vhydraulic meansr connected to. said pickup arm yfor elevating it in response to a change of pressure in one sense and lowering it in response to a change of pressure in another sense, ,second hydraulic means connected to said pickup arm for swinging it outwardly in response to a change of pressure in one sense and inwardly in response to a change of pressure in another sense, means operatively associated with said first and second hydraulic means for so regulating` the pressure applied to each of said hydraulic means that said pickup arm may be elevated by said rst hydraulic means before said second hydraulic means can swing said pickup arm outwardly, and that said iirst hydraulic means can maintain said pickup der in said master-hydraulic means for reciprocating it intoand outofegagementwith said Asecond piston for first changing thepressure insaid pressure-regulating means and then applying pressure from said second piston to .said

' record-releasinghydraulic means.

v13.,In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable p turntable, a :pickup arm mounted `.adjacent said yturntable forvhorizontal and vertical movement vwith respect thereto, record-supporting means adjacent the periphery of said turntable for supsponse to increased pressure and lowering it in reporting a plurality of records in a position to be f dropped to said turntable, a record-releasing means operatively associated with said recordsupporting means, first hydraulic means connectedfto said pickup arm for elevating it in responseto decreased pressure, second hydraulic means connected to said pickup arm for swinging y it outwardly in response to increased pressure and inwardly in response to decreased pressure,

a chamber common to said rst and second hydraulic means, Vports connecting said chamber with each of said hydraulic means, the port connecting with said second hydraulic means being smaller than the port connecting with said rst hydraulic means whereby said pickup arm may be elevated by said nrst'hydraulic means before said second'hydraulic means can swing said pickup arm outwardly, valve means associated with the port connecting to said first hydraulic means arm in its elevated position while the second hydraulic means swings the pickup arm inwardly, hydraulic means connected to said record-releasing means for moving it, master, hydraulic means operatively associated with said pressureregulating means, and said record-releasing hydraulic means i'or rst applying pressure to said pressure-regulating means and then applyingA pressure to said record-releasing hydraulic meBlnS.

l2'. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable turntable, a pickup arm mounted adjacent said turntable for horizontal and vertical movement with respect thereto, record-supporting means adjacent the periphery of said turntable for supporting a plurality o! records in a 'position to be dropped to said turntable, a record-releasing means operatively associated with said recordsupporting means, first hydraulic means connected to said pickup arm for elevating it in response to a change of pressure in one sense and lowering it in response to a change of pressure in another sense, second hydraulic means connected to said pickup arm for swinging it outwardly in response to a change oi.' pressure in one sense and inwardly in response to a change of pressure in another sense, means common to said rst and second hydraulic means for regulating the pressure applied to each of said hydraulic means whereby said pickup arm may be elevated by said ilrst hydraulic means before said second hydraulic means can swing saidupickup arm outwardly and whereby said ilrst hydraulic means can maintain said pickup arm in its elevated position while the second hydraulicneans swings the pickup arm inwardly, hydraulic means connected to said record-releasing .means for f moving it, master hydraulic means comprising a first cylinder connected to said pressure-regulating means, a second cylinder open to said nrst cylinder and connected to said record-releasing hydraulic means, pistons in each of the cylinders in said master hydraulic means and driving connected to the piston in the iirst cylinder in said.

master hydraulic means for reciprocating it into and out of engagement with said secondl piston for iirst applying pressure in said chamber'and then applying pressure from said ysecond piston to said record-releasing hydraulic means.

14. In an automatic phonograph, a rotatable turntable, a pickup arm mounted adjacent said turntable for horizontal and vertical movement with yrespect thereto, record-supporting means adjacent the periphery of said turntable for supporting a plurality of records in a position to be dropped to said turntable, a record-releasing means operatively associated with said recordsupporting means, reciprocating hydraulic means connected to said pickuparm for elevating it in response lto increased pressure and lowering it in response to decreased pressure, rotary hydraulic means connected to said pickup arm for swinging it outwardlyin response to increased pressure and inwardly in response to decreased pressure, a

chamber common to said reciprocating and said rotary hydraulic means, ports connecting said chamberA with each of said hydraulic means, the port connecting with said rotary hydraulic means being smaller than the port connecting with said reciprocating hydraulic means whereby said pickup arm maybe elevated by said reciprocating hydraulic means before said rotary. hydraulic means can swing said pickup arm outwardly,

valve means associated with the port connecting to said reciprocatinghydraulic means and eiTecy tive to reduce thesize of said port when pressure is relieved in said chamber whereby said reciprocating hydraulic means maintains said pickup arm in itselev'ated position while the rotary hydraulic means swings the pickup arm inwardly,

reciprocating hydraulic means connected to said record-releasing means'for moving it,.master hydraulic means comprisingva Iirst cylinder connectedto said chamber, a second cylinder open v8 yassignee to said first cylinder and connected to said record-releasing reciprocating hydraulic means, pistons in each of the cylinders in said master hydraulic means' and` driving means connected to the piston in the first cylinder in said master hydraulic means for reciprocating it into and out of'engagement with said second piston for iirst applying pressure in said chamber and then applying pressure from said second piston to said l0 record-releasing reciprocating hydraulic means.

JERALD D. WEAVER. 

